New Delhi, Nov 24 Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Thursday called upon the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and Public Sector Banks (PSBs) to contribute significantly to promotion of sports in the country.

A meeting of major PSUs and PSBs was held here to discuss promotion of sports in the country.The meeting was chaired by Goel.

"It was for the first time that such a meeting was convened by the minister to make concerted efforts for the promotion of sports," a Press and Information Bureau (PIB) release said.

Goel said the PSUs and PSBs have a vast reach and resources which can be used for growth of sports in the country.

The minister stated that they can contribute in various ways to promotion of sports including support for training of athletes, creation of sports infrastructure and organisation of sports competitions.

He also invited PSUs and PSBs to contribute to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) which has been set up under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for sports promotion. He pointed out that contribution to NSDF qualifies for Income Tax exemption and there is matching contribution from the Government as well.

Under NSDF, top athletes have been supported for their preparation for major international tournaments and also eminent athletes have been supported for setting up academies. He said his ministry would be happy to award PSBs and PSUs for promotion of sports under "Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar".

The meeting was held as a part of the on-going efforts being made by Goel to forge a consensus on the vision for sports in the country and initiate coordinated efforts for promotion of sports. He has already held two meetings with national sports federations.

He has also spoken to sportspersons who have been conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award and coaches who have been conferred with the Dronacharya Award and also well known former sportspersons, administrators and others associated with sports promotion in the country.

IANS